Folic acid has received increased research,
government and public attention in the past decade. The new
perception is that there are many possible benefits to folic acid
supplementation of the diet. The policies of the Alpha Nutrition Program
and Alpha Nutrient formulations have been altered
to include a folic acid supplementation level of at least 400 ug per day. The level of
folic acid in all our formulas has been increased to achieve this goal. Our
new Alpha BMX formula is intended to prevent and/or treat brain disorders and
has an even higher intake level of 800 ug per day. Branded promotional products & Corporate Business Gifts for advertising,
The impetus for government interest was the
demonstration that fetal growth defects that occur in early pregnancy were
related to folic acid deficiencies in the diets of young mothers. The main
growth abnormalities are neural tubes deficits that occur in the first 12
weeks of pregnancy. These include anencephaly, meningomyelocele and
encephalocele, three major abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord that
are among the most common birth defects with severe mortality and
morbidity. Neural tube defects occur with an incidence of 1-5 per 1000
births, showing marked geographic, ethnic and temporal variations.
[i] There're some famous blackjack tournaments which are spread everywhere today; casinos, TV, Internet.
Often pregnancy is diagnosed after 12 weeks, too late
to avoid neural tube deficits with folic acid supplements. Folic acid is now a nutrient officially added to
cereals as a public health measure. In Canada, folic acid has been added to flour and the
government has initiated a public education campaign to recommend
folic acid supplements to women who are likely to become pregnant. In the
USA folic acid was added to cereal grains in 1998 at a dose of 140
micrograms/100 g.
Folic acid deficiency
diseases: Anemia, Neural Tube Defects, Arterial Disease, Dementia,
Parkinson’s Disease, Colon and Breast Cancer
RDA 200 ug/day; 400 ug
during pregnancy; 280 ug during lactation
Supplement
Recommendation: 400 to 1000 ug/day
The
recommendations for daily folic acid intake have been increased
incrementally over many years, illustrating the deficiencies in the
original concept of RDA. In Canada, the mean daily folic acid intake for
ages 12 to 65 years is 205 micrograms/day for men and 149 micrograms/day
for women. Pregnancy increases the risk and incidence of folic acid
deficiency. Increased intake is recommended for pregnant women - 400
micrograms or 7-micrograms/kg body weight. Intake levels up to 1000 ug per
day have shown benefit in cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease and
the prevention of colon cancer. The policies of the Alpha Nutrition
Program have been altered to include a folic acid supplementation level of
at least 400 ug per day.
Folic acid (or folate) is a key vitamin in cellular
function and repair. Deficiency leads to impaired cell division and to
alterations in protein synthesis - the effects are most pronounced in
rapidly growing tissues. Folate is essential for the synthesis and repair
of DNA. Folate is involved in the synthesis of nucleotides and amino acid
metabolism such as the methylation of homocysteine to methionine.
Methionine is activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to produce S-adenosylmethionine
(SAM), the primary intracellular methyl donor.
Folic acid is essential for the formation and
maturation of both red and white blood cells and deficiency is often
expressed as anemia, especially among the elderly, the poor, alcoholics,
and pregnant women. Folic acid-deficiency anemia is associated with
fatigue, weakness, apathy, headaches, irregular heartbeat, sore tongue,
and diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, irritability and
forgetfulness.
Folic acid is widely distributed in foods. Liver,
dark green leafy vegetables, fruit, and yeast are good sources. Some folic
acid is synthesized by bacteria in the intestines. Cooking destroys some
forms of folic acid and it is generally advised that raw fruits and
vegetables are included into the diet. Strict vegetarians are prone to be
deficient in vitamin B12, because it is obtainable only from
animal products but are likely to be well supplied with folic acid because
it is available in vegetables and fruit. Although it may take years for
the new vegan to develop B12 deficiency, it may be masked by a
high folic acid intake. The vegetarian's high intake of folic acid allows
red blood cells to develop to normal size and maturity, but does not
prevent the nerve damage caused by B12 deficiency.
[i]
Birnbacher R; Messerschmidt AM; Pollak AP. Diagnosis and prevention of
neural tube defects. Curr Opin Urol 2002 Nov;12(6):461-4 (ISSN:
0963-0643)
